There's no denying that celebrities love their motorcycles and while some of them have been spotted in outfits I might not exactly categorize as motorcycle ready, most are smart enough to protect their precious extremities by covering up. Some including Brad Pitt opt for the same gear that the pros use. Dainese is an Italian company that specializes in protective, stylish gear for outdoor activities such as mountain biking, motorcycling, water sports and snow skiing. The gear is designed to be lightweight and form-fitting so that is is both safe and stylish. Their motorcycle jackets which are available in both textile and leather are fashionable enough that people who've never been anywhere near a bike have been spotted wearing them.
It's always interesting when companies collaborate, and it's no different in the case of Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta joining forces with both the clothing manufacturer Hydrogen and the luxury boat company Wally. The resulting limited edition bikes are spin-offs of MV Agusta's Brutale 910 and are appropriately called the Hydrogen Brutale 910 R and the Wally Brutale 910 R. Each of the bike designs are unique while still maintaining the lines and beauty that make the Brutale the bike that it is. Only 100 of each model will be produced.
The cream of the crop is officially all in one spot as the Robb Report, a global luxury source, recently released their limited edition series of rare items and unforgettable trips. From timepieces to cars, jewelry to wine, and trips to Aspen or Manhattan this list has something special for everyone and is bound to trip your trigger for must-haves. Imagine surprising someone with one of these unique gifts for the holidays! But don't wait too long -- the items went live for purchase a few days ago. Peruse the gallery and see for yourself the amazing offerings from Robb Report listed below:
Louis XIII de Rémy Martin's Robb Report Limited Edition Century-Old Barrel of Cognac: $2 million
ECOSSE Moto Works' Robb Report Limited Edition Titanium Series Motorcycle and Timepiece: $275,000
Steinway Lyngdorf's Robb Report Limited Edition Steinway & Sons Custom Model D Music System: $250,000
U2 singer and activist, Bono, is auctioning off his Ducati 916 motorcycle on December 2nd at the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show in Birmingham, UK. This bike was also previously owned by the late INXS singer Michael Hutchence and another U2 member, Adam Clayton. Quite the special ride! The proceeds from this auction will support Riders for Health, a self-funded organization that carries out its healthcare mission in Africa by using motorcycles to reach remote locations. So if you are looking for a new ride that has a celebrity history and connections to a great cause bid on December 2nd at the Black Horse Stage in the Arai Entertainment zone at 12:00. Best of luck!
Like many celebrities, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler, has a love of motorcycles. Tyler has decided to turn his love into a business by launching Red Wing Motorcycles, a new collaboration with Mark Dirico and AC Custom Motorcycles. Each motorcycle has a Harley Davidson engine and is hand signed by Tyler. He describes the bikes as " sick, rugged, and just damn cool." Tyler seems to be doing more than just lending his name to the project, he even blogs on the Red Wing Motorcycles Web site.
The custom cycles have a vintage feel. Each bike is hand built by the team at AC Custom Motorcycles. The bikes can be seen at Manchester and Nashua, N.H. Harley Davidson dealerships and a national roll out is planned for 2008.
Okay so the Skycar is probably not in your budget but for the price of a car you could own the Super Sky Cycle. Larry Neal's company The Butterfly has gone into production with their first 30 Super Sky Cycle Kits. The cycle is a tricycle-geared gyroplane with a folding rotor. Assemble it yourself and then it is registered for the air as an experimental amateur-built aircraft and on the ground as a homebuilt motorcycle. It is powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 ULS engine and can hit a top speed of 100 MPH and a maximum highway speed of 55 MPH. The Super Sky Cycle kit lists for $37,195 including the engine, and is recommended for pilots under 280 pounds.
The latest motorcycle from Ducati is one of the rarest from the Italian maker of premium bikes to hit the market in a while. There will be just 100 of the 2007 Sport 1000 Mono Special Edition sold in North America (10 for Canada and 90 for the U.S.) The Sport 100 SE has a black and gold paint scheme and is a single seat bike that has a limited edition numbered plaque located on the triple clamp. The motorcycle has a a twin muffler "shotgun" exhaust, spoke wire wheels and Brembo brakes and a 992cc dual spark motor. It sells for $11,495.
I was driving back from a meeting this morning listening to a radio show discussing the Bombardier Spyder. One host was arguing that the new roadster trike was perfect for middle-aged men like himself who were interested in the motorcycle experience but worried about falling over. The other host argued that no man with any self-esteem what so ever would be caught dead on this thing instead of a real bike. Either way it's a distinctive vehicle, looking a bit like a regular motorcycle from the back but more like a riding lawnmower from the front. It has a 106 horsepower Rotax 990cc V-twin engine, a five-speed transmission, anti-lock brakes and a stability control system. The Can-Am Spyder roadster sells for $14,999 and comes in either yellow or silver. It will be available in the U.S. this fall.
One of my favorite writers, Susan Carpenter, the "throttle jockey" who writes for the LA Times, has delivered a review of the 2007 Norge 1200 Moto Guzzi sport-tourer motorcycle that might have you running to your dealer with dollars in your pocket. The Italian luxury bike is named as a tribute to the 3,700-mile trip Giuseppi Guzzi took to the Arctic Circle almost 80 years ago. It has a powerful air-cooled, four-stroke, 90-degree V twin engine and at 542 pounds is a substantial and sturdy bike. Carpenter took the bike for a spin in Malibu's Decker Canyon and found it a breeze on the twisting roads. The base price is $14,990.
Using bezel setting, the same technique that allows a diamond to be suspended in a solitaire setting, Forgiato Radurra Wheels are suspended within the space of a tire that would normally be occupied by a traditional hubcap. It gives the impression that the wheel is simply floating in place on motorcycles and a clear view of the inner workings of the axle and breaks on a car. The clear, glass-like panel is actual made out of extremely hard polycarbonate and should stand up to at least as much impact as your car can. Prices start at about $5,000 per wheel.
It's a long time since I had a motorcycle crush but the new Victory Vision is certainly impressive, it's a delicious mix of the sturdy and the sleek. The Victory Vision is a luxury touring bike like the Honda Goldwing aimed at the more sedate cruiser. There are two versions of the bike, the Tour, which is aimed at long distance travel for two and the Street, which is a bit sleeker and designed for the solo travellr. The motorcycle has a six-speed transmission and a cockpit that includes options for satellite radio, GPS navigation MP3 support and more. The Victory Vision bikes are set to sell for around $20,000 and will be ready this fall. Pics of the Vision unveiling at the New York International Motorcycle Show can be found here.
A rare auction of property owned by quintessentially cool actor Steve McQueen will take place at the Petersen Museum Los Angeles on November 11. The auction by the late actor's widow includes more than 200 lots. The items include entertainment memorabilia such as clothing, scripts, sunglasses and movie posters but the truly craveworthy items are from McQueen's collection of vintage motorcycles. My favorite is this circa 1920 Indian Powerplus 'Daytona' Racing Motorcycle. The Indian name was McQueen's favorite marque and this bike was restored specially for McQueen. The bike has an estimate of $60,000 - 90,000.
Ducati calls their new Desmosedici RR the ultimate Ducati experience. The new bike was launched at Mugello on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix on June 1. The Desmosedici RR is the road-going version of the Ducati Corse Grand Prix racing Desmosedici GP6. The new bike won't be available until next summer and will be a limited edition with around 400 bikes produced per year. You can reserve one starting yesterday and Ducati 999R owners have priority. The bike will cost around 50,000 euros putting it at the top level of pricey motorcycles. The bike will include all the racing decals for those who want the total track look.
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